Some might think that there’s no reason to make assumptions that people who are LGBTQ+ are necessarily more likely to experience anxiety but, unfortunately, there have been studies to show that’s the case, especially amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Regardless of one’s sexuality or gender identity, however, there’s plenty that can be done to manage and treat anxiety.
Here are a few of the tips that you should consider following.
Eliminating some stressors
There’s no need to feel any responsibility to “put the blame” on people who are experiencing or battling anxiety. However, there are several lifestyle factors that have been shown to have direct, often causal links, with the symptoms of anxiety. Alcohol and caffeine are both drugs that have been known to exacerbate anxiety and cause panic attacks, so finding a way to reduce your intake could help. Caffeine, in particular, can play a big role. The boost of energy that caffeine provides can feel good and isn’t always necessarily a problem in and of itself, but that heightened energy can also lead to a heightened sense of anxiety.
Finding your stress management techniques
There are techniques, including physical and mental exercises that you can make use of that can help you “come down” from a point of high anxiety, helping you to restore some balance for the day. Working out is known to greatly help with anxiety by helping you release positive neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins (sometimes also called ‘happy hormones’) that can lead to a direct improvement in your mood. There are also breathing exercises you can try out. For a lot of people, working with a meditation tool like the Mindfulness app can also help get the mind off of its hyper-fixations and get you in a more relaxed state.
Write about it
Another mental exercise, but one that deserves a little more attention, is the use of a journal to write about your day, and your experiences, and to help you put words to your thoughts on them. When you’re experiencing anxiety, it feels like sometimes your worries and fears can come at you in overwhelming waves. Taking the time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, if that’s how you prefer) can help you get a little distance and perspective from those issues, which can help make them seem much more manageable. It can also help as a mindfulness exercise, better helping you recognize your own thought patterns and anxiety triggers, which can make them easier to avoid and manage.
A herbal solution?
Depending on the legality and availability of where you live, there may a solution that’s more natural, though not always accessible. Cannabinoids of all kinds, including both CBD and THC, have been used by a lot of people to help manage their anxiety. For those who don’t like to smoke, there are products like Delta 9 that allows you to take some but without having to roll or ignite anything. When it comes to both CBD and THC, it’s recommended to try it at lower doses when it comes to using it for the first time.
Find someone to talk to
The best outcome is being able to find a trained professional who can help you work through your anxiety and the root of it. However, finding a safe space where you can share your thoughts and problems can work much like journaling can. However, the addition of feeling someone’s support and care can be a much-needed mood boost and help you get through some of those rough patches.
Addressing the barriers to treatment
While there are plenty who might prefer to try informal treatments outside of the medical sphere at first, it is important to address that you do have clinical treatments as an option, as well. For instance, there are several anti-anxiety meds on the market, some of which might be able to help. That said, there are plenty of barriers to treatment that might prevent you from looking for it, whether it’s due to insurance plan inclusion issues, your location, or otherwise. To that end, there are online treatment options like PlushCare that are worth considering. They might not be applicable to everyone, but they could be worth looking into.
Fighting anxiety is not entirely as simple as the tips above, but these are some of the steps to make it more manageable and to better care for yourself in the future. Follow them but don’t neglect to seek treatment and get advice beyond these tips alone.
